The metamorphosis of Robin Uthappa

Robin Uthappa's career resembles a roller-coaster - booming highs followed by disappointing lows. He was often brought under malicious microscopes for failing to blend talent with temperament. But today Uthappa is a transformed batsman. With Uthappa Version 2.0, churning out consistent displays in the Ranji Trophy and the Indian Premier League, a return to the national side was well and truly on the horizon.

Uthappa burst onto the international scene in style as if he was weaving through the traffic in his hometown, Coorg, with music in full blast. Uthappa began as a hard-hitter, who was never shy of throwing caution to the winds. Opening the batting in the place of Virender Sehwag, Uthappa cracked a breezy 86 on his ODI debut in 2006 to seal a clinical run-chase for India.

He also shone in India's T20 WC winning campaign in South Africa in 2007, producing charming cameos. Him hitting the bulls-eye in a tense bowl-out, a la football shoot-out, doffing his cap and making impromptu bows to the Durban crowd, was one for archived viewing as India edged arch-rivals Pakistan.

The initial heroics though was thrust into the shade by a series of flops in 2008. If poor form was not enough, his fitness too was not up to the mark. International bowlers identified his exaggerated back-and-across trigger movement and worked him over. Dropped from the Indian set-up, he was cast into the wilderness. But Uthappa - a dreamer, believer and fighter as his twitter account rightly reads - did not lose his way.

The Karnataka batsman introspected his batting and worked hard on shoring up his fitness. His best friend, Sheetal Gautam, a tennis player, spurred Robbie on to keep going amid all odds. Pravin Amre was another key influence on the Karnataka batsman in more ways than one.

Having enjoyed a comfortable working experience with the former India batsman during his stint with the now-disbanded Pune Warriors, Uthappa hired Amre as his personal coach. The shuffle across was done away with, the grip was changed and his technique was recast as he picked brain over brawn, balance over brashness and timing over power. Well, these are just basic tweaks but cricket is all about doing the basics right, isn't it?

Despite the recurrence of a hamstring injury, Uthappa compiled 374 runs in five Ranji Trophy matches, including a vintage ton against Uttar Pradesh on a tricky greenish pitch in the third quarter-final. The rejuvenated opener was also at the vanguard of Karnataka's triumph in the Vijay-Hazare trophy, hitting 536 runs in eight games at an average close to 80.

Robbie extended his purple patch to the Indian Premier League as well, turning water into wine for Kolkata Knight Riders. He illustrated some nonchalant lifts and drives with a still head directing all the operations. On Wednesday, during the rescheduled Qualifier-1, he dethroned Virat Kohli's record for the most runs by an Indian batsman in a single edition of the tournament. Uthappa had already set a new world record in T20s with nine scores of 40 or more.

Speaking after his match-winning knock of 67 against Chennai at the Eden Gardens, Uthappa stressed, "I just wanted to play to the merit of the ball. When you play T20, you tend to lose your shape technically and that's what I have been trying to avoid."

Success can be discovered even at the darkest of times if one remembers to turn on the light. It is the no-nonsense approach, which has helped Uthappa turn it on, dispelling the darkness that had then spread like children on the ground during recess.

Fittingly, the resolute batsman has been recalled to the Indian team for the forthcoming tour of Bangladesh. His second skill - wicket-keeping - also holds him in good stead. At 28, Robin Uthappa 2.0 is a picture of poise and is ready for the sterner challenges ahead.

Kolkata Knight Riders' victory celebrations post their triumphant Indian Premier League (IPL) campaign were marred by a near-stampede followed by a lathi-charge as more than 150,000 supported clambered over barricades and gates to get a glimpse of their heroes.